William Friedkin's horror movie classic holds up well today. Rarely does a picture frighten like The Exorcist does, and it's not because of jump cuts or creepy faces--those are certainly startling, but not terrifying. A jump cut or a creepy face dies after it's played its role. Atmosphere lingers on. The Exorcist has one of the most dread-filled, claustrophobic moods of any horror film I've ever seen. It's a combination of the unknown and the unholy. None of it feels like the hollow, artificially designed atmosphere of your typical horror film. The Exorcist grabs you and doesn't let go, much like the demon possessing Regan. What I love about this movie is that it does not sacrifice character, story, or acting for the sake of cheap thrills or easy scares. The Exorcist works for its scares, and it pays off. The slick direction is aided by some pretty polished production values: Dick Smith's makeup effects are fantastic, but what really stood out was the sound design. A must see.
9/10
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